A brief detour to honor my old lady
Sally Lubeck passed away 20 years ago this morning
My mom died 20 years ago this morning.
After her passing, we unearthed stacks of her poetry, all written in the 1970s, which she apparently had never shared with anyone. Ten years later, I put her words to song, working with some of the best musicians in Durham.
The result was The Matriarchs Album.
Ma had an uncanny gift for language, and the production was extremely emotional and one of the more taxing processes of my life.
It was a way to get to know her, again.
I like to think she lives on through the work.
The complete album can be heard here:
There are probably lots of lessons here I’d like to discuss —the benefits of “narrowcasting”—creating art for a tiny band of loved ones, the need to practice expression, and the value of processing tough emotions through writing.
There’s a lot of overlap between music, in this form, and city re-development. It’s simply rewarding to take something beautiful that came before you—and molded you—and consciously build on it.
But this morning, I have a heavy heart for the loss.
And I am grateful for the man that Sally Lubeck made me.
